It is a lot of work for just 15 to 25 seconds of fun when they are rolled down Baldwin St today in the Cadbury Jaffa Race and World's Steepest Street Party.
But Taieri Parents Centre president Jolene Casey said it was worth the effort to see the looks of excitement on children's faces.
Half of the giant Jaffas are red and were numbered by Cure Kids. The other half are purple and were numbered by the Taieri Parents Centre.
While the job only took five hours to complete, Mrs Casey said there were some interesting side effects.
"You start seeing them in your sleep. We got purple fingers, and the faster you worked, the hotter you got and the more purple your fingers became.
"The temptation to eat them while you're working is also strong. I've gone off them now, but the kids still enjoy them."
Starting at 12.30pm, two races will be run, with 25,000 Jaffas in each descent.
The Jaffas are channelled into a chute at the finish line and the first five through the chute gate win a share of $8000 worth of grocery and petrol vouchers.
All of the money raised from the sale of tickets is kept by, and directly benefits, the organisation which sold the tickets.
Since the race started in 2002, more than $410,000 has been raised for local charities including Canteen, Dunedin Kindergarten Association, the Malcam Charitable Trust and the Otago Community Hospice.
Winning numbers will be announced in tomorrow's Otago Daily Times.
